For Maine, public investments in research and development will pay off

Question 2 on this year's state ballot asks voters to support a $25 million bond that will further strengthen research and development in Maine. This includes investments in specific areas such as biotechnology, marine technology and aquaculture, forest products and agriculture, and environmental technologies.

These funds would ensure Maine continues to grow and attract the innovative companies and talented workforce we need for a healthy and vibrant economy. That’s why we hope Mainers will vote “yes” in the November election.

The bond-funded program, awarded competitively by the Maine Technology Institute to state public and private institutions, would require grantees to match what they receive with at least an equal amount of private investment.

Our state is fortunate to have a number of powerful research institutions that work together to increase their impact on science and on Maine. As leaders of two of these world-class organizations, MDI Biological Laboratory and Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences, we have seen firsthand how strategic public investments in our sector create and sustain good-paying jobs for the state—and vital knowledge for the world.

Between 2001 and 2007, for example, lawmakers appropriated about $50 million to boost Maine's biomedical sector. That included $5.5 million to help MDI Bio Lab winterize its Bar Harbor campus after a century of seasonal operations.

These renovations provided the impetus for the facility's transformation into a year-round biomedical science and education center. MDI Bio Lab has used this initial investment to bring $200 million in federal funding to Maine and has grown into a dynamic research facility with more than 100 employees and grantees.

Perhaps more importantly, this public support enabled the establishment of a statewide research and education network led by the MDI Bio Lab, which now connects 17 research and academic institutions in Maine. The network has supported more than 50 scientists, provided thousands of Maine college students with hands-on research experience, and advanced our understanding of human health.

Government funding had a similar effect on Bigelow Laboratory, increasing its scientific and economic potential through diverse investments. A $4.5 million grant administered by the Maine Technology Institute in 2012 was critical to the construction of the institution's state-of-the-art laboratory in East Boothbay, significantly expanding its research capacity and creating new jobs. Since then, the nonprofit has increased its staff by 60 percent and generated $223 million in revenue from federal, state, industry and private philanthropic support.

Other state funding has supported Bigelow Laboratory's efforts to understand the harmful “forever chemical” PFAS pollutants in Maine's waters, reduce methane emissions from cattle, develop technologies to support local aquaculture, and produce innovative and sustainable products advance algae.

A recent report from the Bioscience Association of Maine shows that the number of life sciences jobs in the state grew 54 percent to nearly 10,000 between 2013 and 2023 – a growth rate far higher than the total number of jobs. And average wages in the life sciences sector are now over $100,000.

Our organizations work hard to educate and develop the scientifically skilled workforce life sciences employers need through courses, conferences and paid fellowships in our state-of-the-art facilities.

There's real momentum to build on here and this connection couldn't come at a better time.

It has been seven years since Maine voters last approved an R&D bond. This $45 million investment ultimately leveraged more than $224 million in matching funds from the private sector. With an impact of more than $1 billion on Maine's economy, it directly funded 1,770 new jobs – and indirectly supported over 3,000 more.

Voting “yes” on Question 2 will renew this commitment to our state’s economic future. A future in which Maine drives innovation and does not lag behind other states making major investments in research and development. A future where your family members don't have to choose between the salary they need and where they want to live. A future in which Maine capitalizes on its competitive advantages, supports its incredible workforce and realizes its full potential as a research and development state.

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